Systems and methods for distributing checks and paystub data using automated teller machines

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for producing checks and paystub information from an automated teller machine (“ATM”) are described. The ATM transmits either a check request or a paystub information request to a payment card network, which transmits the received request to a card issuer. In the case of a check request, the card issuer verifies sufficient funds within a cardholder account. In the case of a paystub information request, the card issuer transmits the request to an employer payroll computer, which transmits the requested paystub information back to the card issuer. The card issuer transmits the draft authorization or the paystub information to the payment card network. The ATM ultimately receives the draft authorization and thereby produces a check or money order, or receives the paystub information and thereby provides the cardholder with the information.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic communication offinancial information and, more particularly, to automated tellermachines and ATM networks with extended functionality of generatingchecks and payroll data from an automated teller machine.

BACKGROUND

Generally, automated teller machines (“ATM”) are affiliated with banksor other financial institutions. Traditionally, each ATM is capable ofcommunicating with the bank or financial institution affiliated withthat particular ATM via one or more ATM networks. Moreover, ATMs aregenerally capable of performing only limited types of transactions,including cash deposits and withdrawals, and check deposits.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes, in detail, systems and methods forgenerating checks, such as checks and money orders, and payroll datafrom an ATM capable of communicating with an entity other than anaffiliated bank or financial institution.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for generating acheck from an ATM comprising reading an ATM readable card to access anaccount of a user and receiving a check request, including a checkamount, from the user. The method further comprises transmitting a debitorder for the check amount to a payment card network that is coupled toa plurality of ATM readable card issuers. Additionally, the methodcomprises receiving a confirmation from the payment card network thatthe check amount was deducted from the account of the user in responseto the debit order, and printing a check for the check amount.

The check of the aforementioned method is either a check or a moneyorder. The check request may include entity information pertaining to anentity to receive the check. The method may further comprise determiningwhether the check amount equals an amount of the confirmation that wasdeducted from the account of the user. Moreover, neither the paymentcard network nor the plurality of ATM readable card issuers may own oroperate the ATM.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method fordistributing payroll data from an ATM comprising reading an ATM readablepayroll card to access a payroll account of the user, and receiving apayroll data request from the user. The method further comprisestransmitting the payroll data request to a payment card network that iscoupled to a plurality of ATM readable payroll card issuer. Moreover,the method comprises receiving payroll data from the payment cardnetwork, and printing a receipt containing the payroll data.

The payroll data request may include a date upon which the payroll databecame available to the user and the payroll data may include a leastone of gross income, net income, or withholdings. Additionally, themethod may comprise determining whether the data associated with thepayroll data request equals a date of the payroll data received from thepayment card network. Moreover, neither the payment card network nor theplurality of ATM readable payroll card issuers may own or operate theATM.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an ATM forgenerating a check or payroll data comprising a memory, at least oneprocessor, and a persistent storage device that stores in anon-transitory manner instructions that cause the at least one processorto receive ATM readable card information and receive verificationinformation from a user. The at least one processor further receives acheck request or payroll data request from the user. Additionally, theprocessor transmits a debit order or the payroll data request to apayment card network that is coupled to a plurality of ATM readable cardissuers. Moreover, the processor receives an account deductionconformation or requested payroll data, and provides the user with acheck or payroll data.

The check request may include a check amount and information pertainingto an entity to receive the check. The check may be a check or moneyorder. The ATM readable card may be a payroll card and the payroll datarequest may include a date upon which the payroll data became availableto the user. Moreover, the payroll data may include gross income, netincome, and withholdings. The processor may further determine whether anamount of the account deduction confirmation equals an amount of thecheck request. Additionally, the processor may determine whether a dateaffiliated with payroll data of the payroll data request equals a dateaffiliated with the requested payroll data. The verification informationmay include a personal identification number.

An additional aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method forperforming an ATM transaction. The method includes an ATM reading an ATMcard to access a user account. The method further includes the ATMsending a request to a payment card network, which is coupled to cardissuers. The request includes a request to one of the card issuers forauthorization of a check. The method further includes the ATM receivingthe authorization for the check from the payment card network. Moreover,the an ATM transaction of producing a check, requested by the ATM user,is performed.

The method may further include sending the request for the check to anATM operator. Additionally, the method may include the ATM receiving theauthorization for the check from the ATM operator.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method forperforming an ATM transaction. The method includes an ATM reading an ATMcard to access a user account, and the ATM sending a request to apayment card network. The payment card network is coupled to cardissuers, and the card issuers are coupled to employer payroll computers.The request includes a request to one of the employer payroll computersfor paystub information. The method also includes the ATM receiving thepaystub information from the payment card network. Moreover, the methodincludes performing an ATM transaction requested by a user wherein theATM produces the paystub information.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system forperforming an ATM transaction. The system includes an ATM operatorcoupled to an ATM, a payment card network coupled to the ATM operator,and an ATM card issuer coupled to the payment card network. The systemalso includes an employer payroll computer, including a processor and adata storage apparatus, coupled to the ATM card issuer. A paystubdatabase is stored in the data storage apparatus. The paystub databasecontains paystub information specific to an ATM user. The ATM operatoris configured to receive a paystub request from the ATM. The paystubrequest indicates a timeframe of requested paystub information.Moreover, the ATM operator receives the paystub information from thepayment card network and determines whether the receives paystubinformation matches the timeframe of the paystub request. When thereceives paystub information contains the correct timeframe, the ATMoperator transmits the paystub information to the ATM.

The paystub request may include gross income, net income, and/orwithholding amounts. The employer payroll computer may access thepaystub database in response to receiving the paystub request from theATM card issuer.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system forperforming an ATM transaction. The system includes an ATM operatorcoupled to an ATM, a payment card network coupled to the ATM operator,and an ATM card issuer coupled to the payment card network. The ATM cardissuer includes a processor and a data storage apparatus. An ATM accountdatabase, that contains account information specific to an ATM user, isstored in the data storage apparatus. Moreover, the ATM operatorreceives a check request, includes a check amount requested by the ATMuser, from the ATM. The ATM operator also receives a draft authorizationfrom the payment card network. The ATM operator further determineswhether a draft authorization amount matches the amount of the checkrequest. When the draft authorization amount is correct, the ATMoperator transmits the draft authorization to the ATM.

The draft authorization may include a routing number and a bank accountnumber when the user requests a check. Alternatively, the draftauthorization may include a serial number when the user requests a moneyorder.

Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure aredescribed below. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying ordesigning other structures, systems and processes for carrying out thesame purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent implementations do notdepart from the teachings of the disclosure as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features, which are believed to be characteristic ofthe disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages, will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The particular features and advantages of the present disclosure will beapparent from the detailed description set forth below in conjunctionwith the drawings in which like reference characters identifycorresponding aspects throughout.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating a general system forgenerating checks and paystub data from an automated teller machineaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a system flow diagram detailing a method for providing auser/cardholder with a check or money order at an automated tellermachine according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a system flow diagram detailing a method for providing auser/cardholder with paystub data at an automated teller machineaccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram detailing a method for generating acheck at an automated teller machine according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram detailing a method for generatingpaystub information at an automated teller machine according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram detailing a system for providing checks andpayroll data from an automated teller machine according to the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description set forth herein makes reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show various aspects of the presentdisclosure by way of illustration. While these various aspects aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodimentsand implementations may be realized and that logical and mechanicalchanges may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes ofillustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recitedin any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in anyorder and are not limited to the order presented, unless specificallyand explicitly indicated.

FIG. 1 provides a general overview of a system 100 for generating checksand payroll data from an automated teller machine (“ATM”). The system100 includes an ATM 102, an ATM operator 104, a payment card network106, and an ATM card issuer 108. The components 102, 104, 106, 108 ofthe system 100 may be in direct communication, or may be in indirectcommunication via one or more networks.

A user interacts with an interface of the ATM 104 to effect a variety oftransactions using an ATM card. The variety of transactions capable ofbeing engaged and performed include the generation of checks and payrolldata. Checks as used herein may refer to negotiable instruments ingeneral, thereby including checks and other documents such as moneyorders.

The ATM 102 exchanges various data/information, such as check requestsand paystub requests, with the ATM operator 104. The ATM 104 alsogenerate checks, other negotiable instruments such as money orders, andpaystubs, for example.

The ATM operator 104 is in communication with the payment card network106, which may be an entity that acts as a custodian and/or clearinghouse for payment cards affiliated with it, for example a cardassociation. The presence of the payment card network 106 allows the ATM102 to gain access to any ATM card issuer 108, rather than just the bankor financial institution that owns or operates the ATM 102.

The ATM card issuer 108 may be an entity, such as a bank or otherfinancial institution, that issues ATM cards to users. Such ATM cardsinclude, for example, credit/debit cards, debit cards, and variousprepaid/preloaded cards, such as payroll cards (defined in detailbelow). The ATM cards issued by the ATM card issuer 108 may beaffiliated with the payment card network 106. Both the payment cardnetwork 106 and the ATM card issuer 108 may be unaffiliated with the ATM104. That is, the payment card network 106 and ATM card issuer 108 maynot own or operate the ATM 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 for providing a user with a check at anATM. The system 200 includes an ATM cardholder 202, the ATM 102, the ATMoperator 104, the payment card network 106, and the ATM card issuer 108.

The ATM cardholder 202 presents the ATM 102 with an ATM card and itscorresponding personal identification number (“PIN”) (illustrated as204). The ATM reads the presented ATM card to access a cardholderaccount. The presented ATM card may be, for example, a credit/debitcard, debit card, or prepaid/preloaded card, such as a payroll card(defined in detail below). Additionally, the ATM 102 transmits a checkrequest to the ATM operator 104 (illustrated as 206). The check requestmay include the entity to which a requested check or money order is tobe conveyed, as well as the amount, in dollars or some other currency,of the check or money order. The check request may further includeuser/card identifying information received when the ATM 102 read thepresented ATM card. The ATM operator 104 transmits the check request tothe payment card network 106 (illustrated as 208). The payment cardnetwork 106 in turn transmits the check request to the ATM card issuer108 (illustrated as 210).

The ATM card issuer 108 may determine, using an ATM card databaseincluding information pertaining to the transacted ATM card, whether anaccount affiliated with the ATM card has sufficient funds to back therequested check request. If the account has sufficient funds, the ATMcard issuer 108 transmits a draft (i.e., check or money order)authorization to the payment card network 106 (illustrated as 212). Inthe case of a check, the draft authorization may include routing andaccount numbers. Further, the user account does not need to be debitedupon receiving the check request but, rather, it may be debited upon thecheck being redeemed. In the case of a money order, the draftauthorization may include a serial number specific to the money order.Further, the user account may be deducted immediately upon the draftauthorization being produced for the money order.

The payment card network 106 transmits the draft authorization to theATM operator 104 (illustrated as 214). The ATM operator 104 therebytransmits the draft authorization to the ATM 102 (illustrated as 216).Upon receiving the draft authorization, the ATM 102 produces the checkor money with its corresponding routing and account numbers, or serialnumber, respectively (illustrated as 218).

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 for providing a user with paystubinformation at an ATM. The system 300 includes the ATM cardholder 202,the ATM 102, the ATM operator 104, an ATM cardholder account 302, theATM card issuer 108, an employer payroll computer 304, and the paymentcard network 106.

The ATM cardholder 202 presents the ATM 102 with an ATM card and itscorresponding personal identification number (“PIN”) (illustrated as306). The ATM reads the presented ATM card to access a cardholderaccount. The presented ATM card may be, for example, a payroll card. Apayroll card is used by an employer as an alternative to producingpayroll checks. The payroll card allows an employee's pay information tobe posted to an account tied to the employee's payroll card. Once theemployee's payroll information is loaded to their personal payrollaccount/card they can have immediate access to the funds, however, theemployer is still required to provide the employee with a paystubdetailing various employment information, such as gross income, netincome, and withholding amounts, for example.

The ATM 102 transmits the PIN, and other cardholder identifyinginformation, to the ATM operator 104 (illustrated as 308). The ATMoperator 104, upon determining the presented ATM card is a payroll card,transmits an option for paystub information to the ATM 102 (illustratedas 310), and the ATM 102 transmits a paystub requested option to the ATMcardholder 202 (illustrated as 312). When the ATM cardholder 202 wantsaccess to paystub information, the ATM 102 transmits a paystub requestto the ATM operator 104 (illustrated as 314). The paystub request mayinclude a time frame to which the paystub information pertains, or mayinclude a specific date upon which the paystub data became available tothe ATM cardholder 202. The ATM operator 104 transmits the paystubrequest to the payment card network 106 (illustrated as block 316). Thepayment card network 106 transmits the paystub request to the ATM cardissuer 108 (illustrated as 318).

The ATM card issuer 108 transmits a paystub information request to theemployer payroll computer 304 (illustrated as 320). In an implementationof the system 300, the ATM card issuer 108 is in direct communicationwith the employer payroll computer 304. The paystub information requestmay include a specific date or timeframe pertaining to the ATMcardholder 202 requested paystub information. The paystub informationrequest may further include the type of paystub information requested,e.g., gross income, net income, and withholding amounts, The employerpayroll computer 304 acquires, using a payroll information database, therequested paystub information affiliated with an account of the ATMcardholder's payroll card (not illustrated). The employer payrollcomputer 304 transmits the acquired paystub information to the ATM cardissuer 108 (illustrated as 322), which in turn transmits the paystubinformation to the payment card network 106 (illustrated as 324). Thepaystub information transmitted to the ATM card issuer 108 may be alimited amount of paystub information contained within the paystubinformation database, thereby increasing privacy of the ATM cardholder's202 paystub information from unauthorized users of the presented ATMcard. The payment card network 106 transmits the paystub information tothe ATM operator 104 (illustrated as 326). The ATM operator 104 therebytransmits the paystub information to the ATM 102 (illustrated as 328),which transmits the paystub information to the ATM cardholder 202(illustrated as 330). The payroll information generated by the ATM 102may be in the form of a ATM receipt having payroll information printedthereon. The payroll information presented to the ATM cardholder 202 maybe limited to specifically requested paystub information. This allowsfor not all paystub information to be displayed, thereby increasingprivacy of the paystub information from unauthorized users.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for generating a check from an ATMaccording to the present disclosure. At block 402 an ATM reads an ATMcard to access a user account. At block 404 a request for a checkauthorization is sent to an ATM operator. At block 406 the request forthe check authorization is sent to a payment card network, that iscoupled to card issuers. The request includes a request to one of thecard issuers for the check authorization. At block 408 the checkauthorization is received from the payment card network. At block 410the check authorization is received from the ATM operator. At block 412an ATM transaction requesting production of a check is performed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for generating paystub information froman ATM according to the present disclosure. At block 502 an ATM card isread to access a user account. At block 504 a request is sent to apayment card network. The payment card network is coupled to cardissuers and the card issuers are coupled to employer payroll computers.The request includes a request to one of the employer payroll computersfor paystub information. At block 506 the paystub information isreceived from the payment card network. At block 508 an ATM transactionrequesting production of the paystub information is performed.

FIG. 6 details a system 600 for providing checks and payroll data froman ATM. The system 600 may include one or more different types ofpayment devices, for example contact and/or contactless cards 602, 604,used to facilitate transactions by a user with a terminal of the ATM104, such as the contact, wireless, or combined terminals 606, 608, 610described in detail hereafter. The contact card 602 may be a device thatinteracts with transaction terminals using physical communication. Thus,the contact card 602 may have a magnetic stripe. The contactless card604 may be a device that interacts with transaction terminals withoutphysical communication. Thus, the contactless card 604 may have anantenna that provides for contactless communication, such as by usingradio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves, for example. Each of thecards 602, 604 may contain an integrated circuit (“IC”) chip having aprocessor portion and a memory portion. The ICs may also include one ormore of control logic, a timer, and input/output ports. Such elementsare well known in the IC art and are not separately illustrated. One orboth of the ICs may also include a co-processor, again, well-known andnot separately illustrated. The control logic may provide, inconjunction with the processing portion, the control necessary to handlecommunications between the memory portion and the input/output ports.The timer may provide a timing reference signal from the processingportion and the control logic. The co-processor may provide the abilityto perform complex computations in real time, such as those required bycryptographic algorithms.

The memory portions of both the cards 602, 604 may include differenttypes of memory, such as volatile and non-volatile/flash memory andread-only and programmable memory. The memory portions may store theoperating system of the cards 602, 604. The operating system loads andexecutes applications and provides file management or other basic deviceservices to the applications. The operating system may be stored inread-only memory (“ROM”) within the memory portion.

In addition to the basic services provided by the operating system, thememory portions may also include one or more applications. At present,one possible specification to which such applications may conform is theEMV interoperable payments specification set forth by EMVCo, LLC (901Metro Center Boulevard, Mailstop M3-3D, Foster City, Calif., 94404,USA). It will be appreciated that, strictly speaking, the EMVspecification defines the behavior of a terminal; however, the card maybe configured to conform to such EMV-compliant terminal behavior and inthis sense is itself EMV-compliant. It will be appreciated thatapplications may be configured in a variety of different ways.

The contact terminal 606 may interface with the contact card 602 throughmeans such as a magnetic stripe terminal. The wireless terminal 608 mayinterface with both the contact and contactless cards 602, 604. Thecombined terminal 610 may interface with both the contact card 602 aswell as the contactless card 604. In operation, the contact card 602 maybe swiped on the contact terminal 606, or may be touched or tapped onthe wireless or combined terminals 608, 610, which then contactlesslytransmits the electronic data to the proximity IC chip in the contactcard 202. Thus, the above-described cards 602, 604 may be ISO7816-compliant contact cards or devices or NFC (Near FieldCommunications) or ISO 14443-compliant proximity cards or devices.

The terminals 606, 608, 610 may function via hardware techniques in aprocessor 612, which is similar to the previously described processors202, 306, or by program instructions stored in a memory 614.

One or more processing centers 616, 618, 620 (indicative of the paymentcard network 106, the ATM readable card issuer 108, and the payroll cardissuer 302 respectively) may be connected to the ATM 104 via the network110. The network 110 may include, for example, the Internet, or aproprietary network. Moreover, more than one network 110 may be employedto connect different elements of the system 600.

The processing center 618, which is indicative of the ATM readable cardissuer 108, may be in communication with the ATM card information datawarehouse 212, which may contain ATM readable card informationincluding, for example, card user, card issuer, card type, and balanceof card/user account. The processing center 620, which is indicative ofthe payroll card issuer 302, may be in communication with a databasesuch as the payroll information data warehouse 304, which may containvarious payroll information, such as gross income, net income, andwithholding amounts, for example. The processing centers 616, 618, 620may be operably connected in order to share information. For example,the processing centers 616, 618 and the processing centers 616, 620 maybe connected to allow the interchange of information between the datawarehouses 212, 304 and the ATM 104.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosureshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the presentdisclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and maybe abbreviated as “/”.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” and/orvariations thereof, when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

It should be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element (or variations thereof), itcan be directly connected or coupled to the other element or interveningelements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to asbeing “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element (orvariations thereof), there are no intervening elements present.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements and/or components, theseelements and/or components should not be limited by these terms. Theseterms are only used to distinguish one element and/or component fromanother element and/or component. Thus, a first element or componentdiscussed below could be termed a second element or component withoutdeparting from the teaching of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this present disclosure belongs.It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined incommonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaningthat is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant artand the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealizedor overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Although aspects of the present disclosure are described in terms ofvarious types of payment cards and payment card accounts, it should beunderstood that the disclosure is not limited to physical cards oraccounts associated with physical cards. For example, various paymentdevices, such as smart phones, tablet computers, and other wirelessdevices may be used in place of a payment card within the scope of thepresent disclosure. It should be understood that any such payment devicecan be used in the same way as a payment card according to aspects ofthe present disclosure.

Although the present disclosure has been described in connection withthe embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto. The above-disclosedsubject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive,and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications,enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spiritand scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowedby law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by thebroadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and theirequivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoingdetailed description.

Although specific components have been set forth, it will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that not all of the disclosed components arerequired to practice the disclosed configurations. Moreover, certainwell known components have not be described, to maintain focus on thedisclosure.

For firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. A machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a memory and executed by a processor unit. Memory may beimplemented within the processor unit or external to the processor unit.As used herein, the term “memory” refers to types of long term, shortterm, volatile, nonvolatile, or other memory and is not to be limited toa particular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media uponwhich memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a data structureand computer-readable media encoded with a computer program.Computer-readable media includes physical computer storage media. Astorage medium may be an available medium that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readablemedia can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical discstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, orother medium that can be used to store desired program code in the formof instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by acomputer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD),laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, andblu-ray disc, where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, whilediscs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

In addition to storage on computer-readable medium, instructions and/ordata may be provided as signals on transmission media included in acommunication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude a transceiver having signals indicative or instructions anddata. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or moreprocessors to implement the functions outlined in the claims.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions,and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular configurations of the process, machine, manufacture,composition of matter, means, methods, and steps described in thespecification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines,manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps presentlyexisting or later to be developed that perform substantially the samefunctions or achieve substantially the same result as the correspondingconfigurations described herein may be utilized according to the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to includewithin their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositionsof matter, means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a check from an ATMcomprising the steps of: reading an ATM card to identify an account of auser; receiving a check request from the user, the check requestincluding a check amount; transmitting a request order for the check toa payment card network, the payment card network being coupled to an ATMcard issuer; receiving a confirmation from the payment card network thatthe check request was authorized by the ATM card issuer in response tothe request; and printing a check for the requested amount.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the account is a prepaid card account.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the check request includes entity informationpertaining to an entity to receive the check.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein the check includes a routing number of the ATM card issuer. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein neither the payment card network nor theplurality of ATM readable card issuers own or operate the ATM.
 6. Amethod for distributing payroll data from an ATM comprising the stepsof: reading an ATM readable payroll card to access a payroll account ofthe user; receiving a payroll data request from the user; transmittingthe payroll data request to a payment card network, the payment cardnetwork coupled to a plurality of ATM readable payroll card issuers;receiving payroll data from the payment card network; and printing apaystub containing the payroll data.
 7. The method of claim 6 whereinthe payroll data request includes a date upon which the payroll databecame available to the user.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein thepayroll data includes at least one of gross income, net income, orwithholdings.
 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:determining whether the date associated with the payroll data requestequals a date of the payroll data received from the payment cardnetwork.
 10. The method of claim 6 wherein neither the payment cardnetwork nor the plurality of ATM readable payroll card issuers own oroperate the ATM.
 11. An EFT system comprising: an employer payrollcomputer; an ATM card issuer computer coupled to the employer payrollcomputer and configured to store payroll card account data; a paymentcard network computer coupled to the ATM card issuer computer; an ATMcard network computer coupled to the payment card network computer; anATM coupled to the ATM network computer; the employer payroll computerconfigured to transmit payroll data directly to the ATM card issuercomputer; the ATM issuer computer configured to transmit the payrolldata to the ATM via the payment card network computer and the ATMnetwork computer; and the ATM configured to print a paystub includingthe payroll data.
 12. An ATM for generating a check or payroll datacomprising: a memory; at least one processor operatively coupled to thememory; and a persistent storage device operatively coupled to thememory and storing in a non-transitory manner instructions that whenloaded into the memory cause the at least one processor to be operativeto: read an ATM card to identify an account of a user; receiveverification information from a user; receive a request to perform atransaction from the user, the request being one of a check request or apayroll data request; transmit one of a debit order or the payroll datarequest to a payment card network computer, the payment card networkcomputer being coupled to an ATM card issuer computer; receive one of anaccount deduction confirmation or requested payroll data; and providethe user with one of a check or payroll data.
 13. The ATM of claim 12wherein the check request includes a check amount and informationpertaining to an entity to receive the check.
 14. The ATM of claim 12wherein the check is a check.
 15. The ATM of claim 12 wherein the checkis a money order.
 16. The ATM of claim 12 wherein the ATM readable cardis a payroll card.
 17. The ATM of claim 12 wherein the payroll datarequest includes a date upon which payroll data became available to theuser.
 18. The ATM of claim 12 wherein the payroll data includes grossincome, net income, and withholdings.
 19. The ATM of claim 12 whereinthe at least one processor is further operative to determine whether anamount of the account deduction confirmation equals an amount of thecheck request.
 20. The ATM of claim 12 wherein the at least oneprocessor is further operative to determine whether a date affiliatedwith payroll data of the payroll data request equals a date affiliatedwith the requested payroll data.
 21. The ATM of claim 12 whereinverification information includes a personal identification number. 22.A method for performing an ATM transaction comprising the steps of:reading an ATM card by an ATM to access a user account; sending arequest by the ATM to a payment card network, the payment card networkbeing coupled to a plurality of card issuers, and the request includinga request to one of the card issuers for a check authorization;receiving the check authorization from the payment card network by theATM; and performing an ATM transaction requested by a user, the ATMtransaction including producing a check.
 23. The method of claim 22further comprising the step of: sending the request to an ATM operator.24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: receiving theauthorization for the check from the ATM operator by the ATM.
 25. Amethod for performing an ATM transaction comprising the steps of:reading an ATM card by an ATM to access a user account; sending arequest by the ATM to a payment card network, the payment card networkbeing coupled to a plurality of card issuers, the plurality of cardissuers being coupled to a plurality of employer payroll computers, andthe request including a request to one of the employer payroll computersfor paystub information; receiving the paystub information from thepayment card network by the ATM; and performing an ATM transactionrequested by a user, the ATM transaction including producing the paystubinformation.
 26. A system for performing an ATM transaction comprising:an ATM operator coupled to an ATM; a payment card network coupled to theATM operator; an ATM card issuer coupled to the payment card network; anemployer payroll computer coupled to the ATM card issuer, the employerpayroll computer comprising at least one processor and at least one datastorage apparatus; a paystub database stored in the at least one datastorage apparatus, the paystub database containing paystub informationspecific to an ATM user; the ATM operator being configured to: receive apaystub request from the ATM, the paystub request indicating a timeframeof requested paystub information; receive the paystub information fromthe payment card network; determine whether the received paystubinformation matches the timeframe of the paystub request; and when thereceived paystub information is determined to be from a correcttimeframe, transmit the paystub information to the ATM.
 27. The systemof claim 26 wherein the paystub request includes at least one of grossincome, net income, and withholding amount.
 28. The system of claim 26wherein the employer payroll computer accesses the paystub database inresponse to receiving the paystub request from the ATM card issuer. 29.A system for performing an ATM transaction comprising: an ATM operatorcoupled to an ATM; a payment card network coupled to the ATM operator;an ATM card issuer coupled to the payment card network, the ATM cardissuer comprising at least one processor and at least one data storageapparatus; an ATM account database stored in the at least one datastorage apparatus, the ATM account database containing accountinformation specific to an ATM user; the ATM operator being configuredto: receive a check request from the ATM, the check request including acheck amount requested by the ATM user; receive a draft authorizationfrom the payment card network; determine whether a draft authorizationamount matches the amount of the check request; and when the draftauthorization amount is determined to be correct, transmit the draftauthorization to the ATM.
 30. The system of claim 29 wherein the draftauthorization includes a routing number and a bank account number. 31.The system of claim 29 wherein the draft authorization includes a serialnumber.